The Senate is a valuable parliamentary institution. Don’t abolish it, reform it!
Over time, we bastardized the Senate by letting it deteriorate into a partisan cesspool.
Despite ongoing individual abuses, the function of the Senate is a critical piece to our civil parliamentary democracy.
I favour a EEE Senate to counterbalance the representation by population in the House of Commons. Even only effective and equal would be better than the status quo.
Elected does not always bring legitimacy, as sometimes it breeds an arrogant sense of authority. Appointed individuals are not all “puppet politicos.” There can be lot good derived from appointed Senators to provide debate, leadership, and sober second thought.
A Canadian solution would be to accept these points and create a blended type of Senate representation. Distribute a number of senators per region; within the region the provinces are apportioned a number of seats; and each provincial government nominates individuals to the prime minister and governor general to appoint.
Essentially, citizens in each province can decide how they fill the seats — clearly in Alberta we would elect them. Further, a small number of seats should be allocated to represent the federal government, appointed by the prime minister or some nomination ratification process of members of Parliament or in committee.
Regardless, the time has come to overhaul the Senate. In true Canadian fashion of compromise, I am certain we can develop an effective parliamentary chamber we can trust — a Senate worth a service to Canadians.
Doug Wagstaff
Olds